Dynamic touch user interface systems and methods

Abstract

A dynamic touch user interface system includes a touch-input interface, one or more visual indicators, and a plurality of sensors. The touch-input interface has a reference surface that covers one or more touch elements. The touch elements define an active area that allows user communication with a computer through touch. The active area is relocatable along the reference surface in response to detected circumstances. The visual indicators visually identify a location of the active area. The sensors detect the circumstances affecting a relocation of the active area.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A dynamic touch user interface system, comprising:
 a touch-input interface having a reference surface covering one or more touch elements that define an active area of the reference surface, which active area allows user communication with a computer through touch; 
 one or more visual indicators that visually identify a location of the active area; 
 a plurality of sensors that detect circumstances, including a user hand motion above and without touching the touch-input interface, 
 wherein the active area is configured to relocate along the reference surface in response to the detected circumstances so as to at least follow the user hand motion, 
 wherein the one or more touch elements are mechanical relocatable along the reference surface so as to correspondingly relocate the active area. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more touch elements are selectively activateable and deactivateable along the reference surface so as to correspondingly relocate the active area. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the visual indicators include at least one physical object. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the physical object is coupled to at least one of the touch elements so as to relocate in conjunction therewith. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the physical object is configured to translate user touch input from the visual indicator to the active area so as to allow user communication with the computer. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the visual indicators include light objects formed by at least one illumination element. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one illumination element is coupled to at least one of the touch elements so as to relocate the light object in conjunction therewith. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the detected circumstances further include one or more of: a driving mode, user body position and user eye gaze. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the reference surface is an interior surface of a vehicle. 
     
     
       10. A dynamic touch user interface system, comprising:
 a touch-input interface having a reference surface covering one or more touch elements that define an active area of the reference surface, which active area allows user communication with a computer through touch; 
 one or more visual indicators that visually identify a location of the active area; 
 a plurality of sensors that detect circumstances, including a user hand motion above and without touching the touch-input interface; 
 a control unit operatively coupled via a network to the touch-input interface, the one or more visual indicators, and the plurality of sensors, the control unit configured to: 
 determine a new location of the reference based on the detected circumstances, 
 relocate the active area along the reference surface to the new location from a current location, so as to at least follow the user hand motion, and relocate the visual indicators in accordance with relocating the active area, 
 wherein the act of relocating the active area includes mechanically relocating the one or more touch elements along the reference surface so as to correspondingly relocate the active area. 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the act of relocating the active area includes selectively activating and/or deactivating the one or more touch elements along the reference surface so as to correspondingly relocate the active area. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the visual indicators include at least one physical object coupled to at least one of the touch elements so as to relocate in conjunction therewith. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the physical object is configured to translate user touch input from the visual indicator to the active area so as to allow user communication with the computer. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the visual indicators include light objects formed by at least one illumination element coupled to at least one of the touch elements so as to relocate the light object in conjunction therewith. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the detected circumstances include one or more of: a driving mode, user body position and user eye gaze. 
     
     
       16. A method for dynamically relocating a touch user interface, the method comprising:
 defining an active area of a reference surface of a touch-input interface, the reference surface covering one or more touch elements, wherein the active area corresponds to a location of the one or more touch elements with respect to the reference surface, which active area allows user communication with a computer through touch; 
 visually identifying the active area via one or more visual indicators; 
 detecting circumstances, including a user hand motion above and without touching the touch-input interface; 
 relocating the active area along the reference surface in response to the detected circumstances so as to at least follow the user hand motion; 
 visually identifying the relocated active area, 
 wherein relocating the active area includes mechanically relocating the one or more touch elements along the reference surface so as to correspondingly relocate the active area. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein relocating the active area includes selectively activating and/or deactivating the one or more touch elements along the reference surface so as to correspondingly relocate the active area.